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Fredi rests many of his regulars on Tuesday

Fredi rests many of his regulars on Tuesday

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PITTSBURGH -- Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez gave Chipper Jones and some of his other starters a chance to rest on Tuesday night after Atlanta officially became the top Wild Card team with its loss on Monday. But he expects all of his regular position players to be back in the lineup to get at least a couple of plate appearances during Wednesday's regular-season finale against the Pirates.

"I'm going to start all of the guys and probably give them an at-bat or two," Gonzalez said. "You don't want to give them three days off. That doesn't do you any good."

Gonzalez felt it was important to get Lyle Overbay, Eric Hinske, Jeff Baker, Jose Constanza and some of his other bench players some at-bats on Tuesday to prepare them for the key plate appearances they might experience in the playoffs.

Michael Bourn was one of the few regulars in Tuesday's lineup and likely would have also rested had he not missed most of last week with a jammed left thumb. Gonzalez planned on pulling Bourn after a couple of plate appearances on Tuesday.

After concluding the regular season on Wednesday, the Braves will rest on Thursday in preparation for Friday night's one-game playoff against the National League's other Wild Card entrant. A game time has not been announced.